What is you opinion of quadracycles and machines like the Citroen Ami?

I would love one. Perfect for my little business which (I tried) is impossible to run on public transport or a bike.

Not really suited to Ireland. Dublin perhaps. These are made for darting around Paris or rome. City cars were never big here compared to the continent. Even superminis not as popular

This is naive.

Neither Dublin or Cork is large enough to warrant the use of these cars. They would only be useful inside the M50 or the Link.

You're likely on motorways outside of this, or taking a circuitous route to the city centre.

Unless you've a niche application you'd be better on public transport or a bike.

Maybe not a popular opinion, but cycling infrastructure is getting better in both Dub and Cork.

What does an Ami offer than a gen1 Nissan leaf doesn't? It's slower, smaller and more expensive, and let's be honest, takes up just as much space in traffic.

Meanwhile in Ireland, you can drive a monster tractor as a 16y/o with a Mickey Mouse W class licence.

There might be a very niche, mostly urban, market for smaller vehicles here as most people look for bigger cars as there's a perception that they're safer, plus the keeping up with the Jones's insecurity people here have.

I think they could actually be safer than electric scooters/bicycles/unicycles etc. Has any one else here had a shiver reversing out of their drive just before someone comes wizzing up to them at 25 kmph. On the footpath ...

At least with these, they are big enough to see. As regards the skill required to drive them, if you can drive a bumper car, I guess you can handle one of these. They weigh 485 kilos so shouldn't inflict SUV-type damage in the event of a tip.

Unlike push bikes or electric scooters/bicycles/unicycles, etc, they have full weather protection.

One concern I'd have is battery range if driven flat out (45 kmph) - which surely people will be doing a lot. It has a range of about 60 KMs and probably more like 40 in winter, so short journeys only. But urban only? I was driving on some very rural roads at the weekend - the type with grass up the middle and where the 45 kmph limit would not be a problem - and could it see it working there just as well as it could in 50 kmph city zones. I guess overtaking one may be a bit of a pain, but perhaps no more so than overtaking 2 cyclists 2-abreast.

There is a very fair review of the Ami in Autoexpress:

... where an entire family tried it out; some were impressed, some not ...

If I had €8-10K to spare, I could see it working as a cheap and convenient form of transport for maybe 75% (by activity, not distance) of our family's transport needs.

Fair point.

Actually I drive out myself, but herself, well ...

do you want old people and teenagers out on the road?

old people who say can't get a car licence?

Bicycles are pretty safe already

electric bikes etc are feeding the next obesity crisis

I've driven the Ami. It's a very basic machine. Noisy, sparse. While it really is a glorified golf cart, it's perfect for city commutes. But in slow moving traffic most people would prefer the more comfortable cabin of a warm, cosy saloon or SUV with a steaming cup of coffee and an infotainment system. While the Ami might be appealing to some, I've no doubt the Irish tax/vrt/insurance/etc costs will make it only slightly more economical than a second hand BEV. It'll be a novelty item but probably not practical from an Irish ownership perspective.

Personally, I'll stick to the bicycle for my commutes.

dunno about back then but youre not allowed on the motorway full stop as a learner so that isnt really an argument.

and its 'did' not 'done'

its a very strange situation tbh. i have a vague recollection of hearing/reading that the official line was that it was suggested to take further lessons specifically relating to motorway driving after passing the test but i could be mistaken on that one. having said that, theyre not overly different compared to most dual carriageways all the same

I suspect it is like a golf car, however I have driven electric golf carts with towbars with trailers to haul stuff off-road, and it has plenty of power and range. Golf carts are designed to be used all day long on golf courses.

Many elderly get around on those mobility scooters but they are quite slow and you get wet. At speed they are too fast on foothpaths. There is specific exemptions for mobility scooters and this is a road going, non exempt in Ireland fully covered version.

My nephew recently spent 4000 euro on a second hand e-bike, partly due to age and low cost compared to running a car. This thing is basically a motorbike, that is operated by teenager and I believe it conforms to rules of pedalling etc. He will commute to school 10km and travel 10km each way to nearest town. He will get wet, he won't be easily seen, may get knocked down by a car.